WAYNE ROONEY says he will never quit English football — because it is the best in the world.

Manchester United striker Rooney is a talent coveted by every club on the globe. But he has told them they can forget about prising him away from Old Trafford. And he points to English clubs’ current success in the Champions League as a big reason.

Rooney, 22, said: “Our game has improved so much in the past few seasons. We have proved we have the best league in the world — which is why we attract the best players in the world. In my eyes it is by far the best league in the world. It is down to English players if they decide to play abroad but, for me, English football is the best. I love playing here and I’m pretty sure that will never change.”

United progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League for a record ninth time by beating Lyon 1-0 on Tuesday. But Rooney admits they will need better displays if they are to go all the way.

He said: “If we want to win the Champions League we’ll have to improve on the performance against Lyon. We got a bit edgy in the second half. We’re looking for better performances.”

Yet United remain on course for a repeat of the famous Treble they achieved in 1999. They are a point behind Arsenal in the league and face Portsmouth at home in the last eight of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Rooney believes it is possible to win all three tournaments with the squad bigger, fitter and stronger than last season when they came up short in the FA Cup and Europe. He said: “The likes of Anderson and Nani have come in and been brilliant.

“Last season we had a lot of injuries and a few tired players but this is a big squad and, hopefully, the rotation policy will help.”

That policy does mean that Rooney has to step aside now and again — as he did at Fulham last weekend.

He said: “Of course having so many good attackers raises the level of competition. I see Louis Saha coming back, so it makes me determined to play well and stay in the team. I don’t want to be out of the team. I hated being sub last week at Fulham. I want to play every game.”